George Isaac
جورج إسحق
Isaac in 2011
Born
George Isaac

1938 (1938)
Port Said, Egypt
Died (aged 85)
Cairo, Egypt
EducationBachelor's Degree in History
Alma materCairo University
Occupation(s)Politician, School teacher, Headmaster
Political party

George Isaac (Arabic: جورج إسحق; 1938 – 9 June 2023) was an Egyptian politician and activist. During the later part of Hosni Mubarak's presidency, he co-founded the grassroots Kefaya opposition movement.

Following the 2011 Egyptian Revolution that toppled Mubarak, Issac became a member of the Constitution Party and a critic of President Mohamed Morsi, elected in 2012. He was a member of the Coptic Catholic Church.[3][4]

Early years

Born and raised in Port Said, Isaac graduated from Cairo University with a BA in history and began his career as a history teacher, headmaster and later as a consultant.[5] Politically active at a young age, he joined the Fedayeen to oppose the British occupation of Egypt and resisted the invasion of Egypt during the Suez Crisis.[6] He was a member of Egypt's Constitution Party.[2][3]

Political activism

Isaac was a founding member and first general coordinator of the Kefaya opposition group, the movement organised the first protest against Mubarak rule. Isaac was later a member of the National Association for Change, a grassroots coalition which prior to the 2011 revolution drew its support from across Egypt’s political spectrum.[7][8][9][10] It was a platform for protest against Hosni Mubarak’s presidency; political corruption, and stagnation; "the blurring of the lines between power and wealth; and human rights."[11][12]

During the 2012 Egyptian protests, Isaac urged President Mohamed Morsi to withdraw his constitutional declaration.[3] On 8 December, after Morsi sought to address some of the protesters' demands, Isaac said that Morsi’s new declaration "does not answer people’s demands", and the work would continue.[13]

Isaac was a member of the National Council for Human Rights.[6]

Death

George Isaac died on 9 June 2023, at the age of 85.[14] Samir Elish, the leader of the Civil Democratic Movement, said: "May God have mercy on our brother George Ishak and forgive him and enter him into his spacious heavens. Our heartfelt condolences to all friends and acquaintances for the loss of a patriotic man and comrade of struggle."[6]

References

  1. ↑ "من قيادات "الدستور" المستقيلين يشكلون "الكتلة الوطنية" لخوض الانتخابات". Al Masry Al Youm. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Egypt's Constitution Party hit by fresh mass resignation". Ahram Online. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Egypt's liberal Ghad party accepts Mursi's call for dialogue, opposition boycotts". alarabiya.net. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  4. ↑ Isaac, George (24 December 2011). "Egypt's Christians – building a new order of equality". Gulf News. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  5. ↑ ظ…ظ†ظٹ ظٹط§ط³ظٹظ†. ط¬ظˆط±ط¬ ط¥ط³طط§ظ‚.. ظ…ط¯ط±ط³ ط§ظ"طھط§ط±ظٹط® ط§ظ"ط°ظٹ طھطظˆظ" ط¥ظ"ظٹ ط±ظ…ط² [George Ishaq .. the history teacher turned into a symbol] (in Arabic). Today.almasryalyoum.com. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 Egyptian activist George Ishak dies age 85
  7. ↑ "Enough of Enough". Globalpolitician.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  8. ↑ "Egypt's 'Committee of the Wise' wants to be in transition talks". CNN. 4 February 2011. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  9. ↑ "George Issac demands MB and Salafists reveal their source of funding". ahram.org.eg. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  10. ↑ "New Egyptian prime minister receives warm reception in Tahrir Square". Al-Shorfa. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  11. ↑ Egypt on the Brink by Tarek Osman, Yale University Press, 2010, p.136-7
  12. ↑ "Run-off victories give liberals hope in elections, say experts". Egypt Independent. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  13. ↑ "Egypt's Mursi annuls controversial decree, opposition says not enough". alarabiya.net. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  14. ↑ "Egyptian politician George Ishak passes away at age of 85". EgyptToday. 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
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